Kenyon-Wanamingo and Zumbrota-Mazeppa Split Doubleheader

Zumbrota-Mazeppa captured the first game 11-3 and Kenyon-Wanamingo came from behind to win game two 7-4 tonight in baseball at John Kunz Memorial Field in Wanamingo. In the first game, which we broadcast on KDHL, the Cougars used a 6 run fifth inning to pull away for the win and in the second game the Knights collected 6 runs in the fifth leading to their victory.

Kenyon-Wanamingo jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in game one when a walk and error opened the inning. A wild pitch got sophomore center fielder Tate Erlandson to third base and senior shortstop Jack Beulke to second. Following a pop out, freshman pitcher Owen Hilke flied out to left scoring Erlandson for the first run and freshman catcher Tyler Craig hit a two out single scoring Beulke.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa took the lead with 3 runs in the third inning when 8 batters went to the plate. Senior shortstop Isaiah Nolte and sophomore center fielder Zach Hutton started the inning with singles. Senior third baseman Willy Heitman was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many trips to load the bases. Starting and winning pitcher Carter Cordes drew a four pitch walk for an RBI. Junior right fielder Matt McKinney hit a smash to Knight sophomore third baseman Garrett Grove who threw to home in the dirt and Craig did an excellent job recording the second out with no damage. Sophomore second baseman Luke Krier had a two RBI single and the Cougars were up 3-2.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa added two more runs in the fourth inning. With one out Nolte was walked and stole second base. There was an error prior to senior catcher Tyler Grudem's single and error allowed those runs to score to make it 4-2. The final run scored when Grudem got into a rundown between first and second and the run scored before the out could be registered.

The Knights answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth but left two runners in scoring position in their half of the inning. This happened with new pitcher Heitman on the hill. Grove hit a one out single, Sophomore right fielder Cole Flom had a single. After the second out number nine hitter sophomore first baseman Wyatt Foss coaxed a 8 pitch walk and with the bags full Erlandson walked after 9 pitches.

The doubleheader featured two five inning games. In the top of the fifth the Cougars started the inning with a ground out. McKinney then singled and stole second. The third batter lined out to left field and with two outs the number 8 and 9 batters were hit by pitches, Nolte had a two RBI single and stole second before Hutton was walked. Grudem knocked in two runs with a single and Heitman had an RBI single in the six run inning.

Winning pitcher Carter Cordes went the first three innings and threw 46 pitches, 27 for strikes, He struck out three, walked one and gave up two hits. The two runs that scored were not earned. Heitman threw the final two innings with 41 pitches, 25 strikes, two walks, a hit batsman and three hits allowed.

Hilke took the loss while throwing 97 pitches in 4 and 2/3 innings. He threw 55 strikes, struck out 4, walked 4 and hit 5 batters while giving up 8 hits. Micah Johnson struck out the last batter in the on five pitches.

Our Held Bus Service Knights of the game were Tyler Craig with two hits, an RBI and stellar defensive play and Tate Erlandson. The top of the order batter was on base two of his three plate appearances, scored a run and had a RBI.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa was the home team in the second game and jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings. Knight senior Jack Beulke was on the mound for Kenyon-Wanamingo and Zumbrota-Mazeppa countered with Luke Krier.

Nolte hit a double in the bottom of the first and scored on a ground out off the bat of Grudem. In the second McKinney led the inning off with a double and scored on an errant throw to first.

The Knights scored a run in the fourth. Hilke got a one out walk and with two outs junior Colin Sviggum had a bases loaded walk for a RBI. In the inning Kenyon-Wanamingo had no hits, three walks and an error to help them score.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa looked like they were going to record a sweep after scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth. McKinney started the inning with a single and was thrown out by catcher Micah Johnson trying to steal second base. It was Johnson's second throw out of the game. Krier walked, Payton Liffrig walked and number nine hitter Parker Voth parked a two RBI single in the outfield to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead heading into the top of the scheduled final inning of the game.

The Knights scored 6 runs on 1 hit and saw four different pitchers in the inning. There were five walks, two hit batsmen and an error in the inning. Reliever Willy Heitman took the loss after Krier went the first four and 1/3 innings. He threw 67 pitches, 36 for strikes, struck out two, walked 5 and allowed 3 hits. Heitman pitched to four batters with a walk, an error behind him and hit batsman. Grudem came in and faced three batters with a bases loaded walk, hit batsman with the bases loaded and RBI single. Zach Hutton allowed a bases loaded walk before getting out of the inning.